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Best stones to surround a fire pit?

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Hey guys. I'm clearing out a small area on my property for a place to have fires for when friends come over. I don't need to dig and actual fire pit. I just want to mark the area with a circle of stones and lay down a layer of sand so that the fire will be less apt to spread or escape. I've tried bricks and concrete blocks and both just fall apart in short order. Was wondering what's the best type of stones to surround a fire pit with. I'd like them to be heavy and roundish is possible. Thanks.

"If you can't take a little bloody nose maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross, but it's not for the timid."

I second Fixer's suggestion for property you own. Old semi split rims work well too. Also I second his caution about some types of stones. Some absorb and trap water inside and become steam powered grenades when heated. I've even had this happen with rocks that had not been in a stream in years, just exposed to the weather.

I would also say go for a section of culvert or a large rim also some washer/ dryer tubs can be used they even come in stainless .You can put rocks around it then I have heard of problems with just rocks and steam.

To piggy back on what thebrain contributed; be careful with any rocks from streams or rivers that are saturated with moisture. Upon reaching the ideal temp these rocks can and will explode sending jagged shards and rock splinters everywhere.

A good local stonemason who does fireplaces can direct you to the right stone if you have your heart set on that. They know their rock, and where to find it. Might even have a large enough pile left over from a job to fill your needs.

Cool, I'm glad this post popped up. I just built my daughter's swingset/fort thing out back and now I have to relocate my fire pit. I was just going to clear more area and then move the mountain stone pit. This has given me cause to pause and think if I want to use the same stones I've used for the last decade or so or...if I want to take a different approach and do something completely new.

History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies. ~Alexis de Tocqueville

I'll try to do pics tonight,but the truck wheel idea is great. I found mine in a scrap yard. The big bonus is that the top is flat , so grates ( old wire fridge shelves make great grates) fit on top , perfect for roasting stuff. I surrounded mine with small stones so the grass doesn't catch fire. I even made a cover for it when I'm not using it ,so it stays dry ,ready for the next fire.

In an area of Lime and Sand stone and seeing first hand, stones exploding by a campfire, I like the looks of stone but I have been using Cinder Blocks for years now. I can go to the block plant and get blocks for free from their dump. They are whole blocks that are seconds or defects. My pit I built which has lasted years is roughly 4 X 8 with one end open to feed in the large stuff.
The best part is what blocks that do fail, I can recycle and reuse them by working the pieces into my road base.

Only if I could Find a REAL, Becker Necker at these prices.

Last edited by 555; 08-18-2010 at 01:20 PM.
Reason: add word Find

Allen Saunders: Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.

Thanks guys. Lots of good ideas here. I didn't know rocks would explode. I know concrete will though LOL.

"If you can't take a little bloody nose maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross, but it's not for the timid."

Rocks and fire rings are nearly worthless when stopping the spread of fire. It is rising and traveling sparks that do the most damage in fire spreading. So - use rocks if you want (dry ones like said above) - but just know that they are simply demarcating the spot to have fire - as opposed to providing protection. Clear the ground - be sure you have no underground roots or peat that can catch fire and light it up.

In an area of Lime and Sand stone and seeing first hand, stones exploding by a campfire, I like the looks of stone but I have been using Cinder Blocks for years now. I can go to the block plant and get blocks for free from their dump. They are whole blocks that are seconds or defects. My pit I built which has lasted years is roughly 4 X 8 with one end open to feed in the large stuff.
The best part is what blocks that do fail, I can recycle and reuse them by working the pieces into my road base.

Only if I could Find a REAL, Becker Necker at these prices.

Yeah, but I'm guessing that failed REAL, Becker Neckers that get worked into your road base will cause you problems. Better just to pay the going rate and then have a REAL, Original Becker Necker with a thing on the end of the Handle that opens all sorts of bottles and that is of really good quality so it won't Fail.

Yeah, but I'm guessing that failed REAL, Becker Neckers that get worked into your road base will cause you problems. Better just to pay the going rate and then have a REAL, Original Becker Necker with a thing on the end of the Handle that opens all sorts of bottles and that is of really good quality so it won't Fail.

The money is in the boxcars, right?

On the other hand, if I could find enough (you'll ship to me) FREE REAL, Original Becker Neckers with a thing on the end of the Handle that opens all sorts of bottles.
I could Weld them together to make a Fire Ring and they already have air holes in them to boot. It's a win, win.

(555: Waiting by the roadside, for the UPS Truck. )

Allen Saunders: Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.

I've seen rocks explode twice in campfires. The first time was as a kid and we didn't know any better. The rock was taken from a stream side and it blew up like a freakin' grenade, scattered the fire everywhere. The second was high on a hill and there was no reason to think it would have retained that much water. Mac

Rocks and fire rings are nearly worthless when stopping the spread of fire. It is rising and traveling sparks that do the most damage in fire spreading.

And make sure there are no overhead branches. Generally, a fire is three times taller than the flames you see. In other words, if you have three-foot-high flames, the fire is capable of starting branches on fire only nine-feet above you. And that of course assumes you don't have still-burning material rising up on the heat. Folks who burn paper and leaves (and you can do this, don't worry) must realize that rising embers can catch on tree branches quite a distance up above your fire. If you're doing this (and I repeat you can), make sure your firepit is in a clearing where nothing overhead (or as Talfuchre says, nothing below!) will catch fire.